Reaper: Love and Death

Two Days Before Judgement

Julian POV

"Who are you anyways?" Julian was currently sitting in an office. or what seemed like an office, he wasn't quite sure.

"I'm Paige, one of the specialists working for Malcolm. I'm not usually at home base long, Malcolm likes to keep me away."

Paige was a thin elvish girl, she stood straight and proud her black hair falling straight and neatly kept. She was some sort of Asian decent, but Julian wasn't going to make assumptions. Her skin was tan, like she visited the beach now and then but never too long. Julian noticed Paige had a more modern air around her than that brutish woman Lenorra.

"I know you're of mixed blood, Julian. I know a great many things about you." Paige sighed as she sat across from him in the armchair as he sat on a small loveseat. "You're an Alpha werewolf, but your mother and the mothers before her were Witches." Julian kept silent, racking his brain for an answer to whatever game she was trying to play.

"As you know, in two days Malcolm will be...dismissed. All the specialists will be present, of course, and we've all been trained for this day. You will be the new caretaker, so we become yours." Julian's metaphorical ears perked up.

"What are the specialists exactly?" Julian asked.

Paige looked at Julian for a moment, "We are 5 individuals Malcolm sought after to take care of Adelie. We also are like spies, businessmen, and personal attendants." Paige bit her lip, debating her words. "All of us have a bond to Adelie, something that ties us to her or to the Cathedral Morte. We have no alliance to the Angel's, except Adelie. "

Julian huffed, "That doesn't answer me, that doesn't give me the why."

Paige shrugged, "Adelie is more than just a Reaper, and there is more going on behind the scenes than you know. Repheal is a s**t, a crude sadistic asshole who is a danger to us all."

That was something Julian could agree with. Repheal was a danger, and one he needed in his pocket for now though.

"You agreed to Rapheal because he promised to give something to you." Paige stated plainly. "I cannot kill you here, it would be unfavorable. However, I hope in time you will see that Repheal doesn't hold promises unless there is a gain for him. I'm assuming it has to do with Adelie, it always does with him. He hates her, pushes her around like a dog in the mud for his own amusement."

"I don't want to hurt Adelie, but I need...to set certain things right..I need his help." Julian's mouth grew dry, he knew what Rapheal promised and knew what it meant for Adelie.

In a flash Paige was standing before him, holding his head in her hand and she looked at him with those glowing purple eyes.

"I bind you to a blood oath. You harm Adelie in a way that leads to her death, I will be your Reaper. I will hunt you down and you will be begging for me to end you." Paige leaned down closer to him, pushing her thumb into the center of his forehead. "I am a Death Seeker Alpha Julian. I have friends in low places, and some would revel in wearing your skin." Julian's forehead burned, he knew she placed a rune there to bind the promise. When it was done, she leaned in and kissed his forehead. When he opened his eyes he was in the kitchen starring at the wall.

Adelie POV

I awoke in my bed, Reese no where to be found, but his red swirling tattoo was still very present on my inner thigh. I checked the time and realized in two days, I wouldn't have Malcolm to run home to.

With that solem thought, I went to take a shower relishing in the hot water.

"Adelie! Malcolm wants you in the courtyard, the others will be coming back soon for the ceremony. Quinn and Meave." Paige yelled from the bedroom, then Adelie listened to her snoop around the room.

When I got out of the shower I eyed her pulling out clothing.

"I think this ensemble will work for the ceremony. don't you think?" Paige smiled at me, proud of her choice.

It was my old mission armor, and by old, I mean centuries old. "Malcolm always said he enjoyed the old painted pictures of you wearing it."

I sighed, "I'll do it for Malcolm." Paige giggled and went to place it on a hanger and on the back of my bedroom door.

"Do you ever regret it?" Paige asked softly, walking over to me guiding me to the vanity.

"Regret what? Not chopping my hair off?" Paige rolled her eyes, as she began brushing my tangled wavy mess of black hair.

"No, I love your ebony hair." Paige smiled down at my hair as she brushed. "I meant Malcolm, you never entertained any of his approaches."

I thought about my answer for a moment, "Malcolm came to me...after a very horrific event. I was scared and didn't trust him by the time we grew closer he...stopped trying. I assumed he found someone else and I let it go as well." Paige nodded not pushing it further.

"I think a braid will be nice." Adelie shrugged letting Paige do what she wished. When she was done, Adelie pulled on active wear. "By the way, don't think I didn't notice the mark of a soul bond on your tight young lady."

Adelie's face instantly got warm. "I...don't quite understand it myself..."

Paige cackled, loudly. "Yokai/Demons perform soul bonds. It's deeper than marriage, they are pretty much telling you they are yours to what you wish with." Adelie was a bit confused, and Paige seemed to notice. "It's like telling someone. I love you so much, you could crush me to dust, and I'd do it with a smile on my face."

Adelie nodded, "It isn't human love. Human love ends."

Paige nodded, walking with her down to the courtyard. "Reese will forever feel where you are, know your needs, hear your thoughts. He will do as you command and will be with you till he cannot be anymore. Thankfully, Yokai and Angel's both live a long time." Paige patted Adelie on the back. "I remember when Malcolm brought Reese here, and he first saw you. He tried to kill you, scared of that need he felt. You kicked his ass and Malcolm made him swear never to bond you."

Adelie froze at that, Paige gave Adelie a dangerous grin.

"Paige..what will happen is Malcolm knows Reese bound himself to me?" My heart started to beat fast, and for a moment, I felt...fear.

Paige was enjoying the show, apparently. An arm came around my shoulders, pulling me into a hard chest.

"That isn't nice, Paige. Malcolm never said that I made that pledge to never bind her." Adelie tilted her head up, looking into the troubled face of Reese.

"Why?" Adelie didn't like the thought he didn't actually want to be with her.

"Simple. I was scared." Reese left it at that, letting her go and walking away. Before Paige could get away, Adelie made sure to shove her into the stone wall, making her yelp.

"I was just teasing!" Paige yelled out, running after her. In the courtyard, Malcolm was speaking with Reese and Julian. He looked stern, like he was yelling at his teenage sons for causing trouble. Malcolm saw me first, motioning for me to come near.

As I approached Malcolm, I noticed Julian was all business. He smiled politely at me but said nothing.

"Quinn and Meave will be here shortly for the ceremony in two days. There is a small mission for you tomorrow, though, so let's have more training with Julian." Adelie nodded to Malcolm. Malcolm looked sad for a moment, making Adelie worry, but he simply patted her on the cheek and told her to go to the center.

Adelie looked at Reese, but Reese shook his head at her, making her pout and stomp to the center of the courtyard.

"Today, no flying off, Adelie. To ensure this, Paige will be binding you." Before I could protest, I felt the full weight of gravity envelope me. My heart beat quickened to that of a scared bird, and I was so very scared. The sky felt far away, and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Relax, Adelie. I know it's hard being cut off. You need to push through." I took hard breaths, gripping the dirt under me, groaning.

"Julian, you have me permission to begin." In a second, I heard Reese protest, then a boot to my head sending me into the dirt. I looked up to meet Julian's stone face and cold eyes.

"Julian...Wha..."

"This is training Adelie, nothing personal, okay?" That kicked felt personal.

I got up, though, and started to meet Julian's blows. He was strong. I'll give him that. His werewolf strength helped him deflect most of my hits. At one point, he did have me restrained but forgot about my blades. After they slowed his arms open, he started to look out for them.

After what felt like hours of bloody, silent parking, Malcolm let us stop. My whole body was screaming, and my mind was in shambles, but I couldn't figure out why.

"Gods...what did I do for you to go at me like that." I didn't mean to say it out loud, but something in me was shattered, and I couldn't control it.

"Nothing..." Julian gave me a hurt look for a second anyways. Then he shot a look at Reese and walked away.

Lenorra was on me in seconds, looking over at my wounds. I pushed her away and looked at Malcolm

"I know.. I am not allowed to ask questions, Malcolm. But something is wrong here." I begged, almost feeling the need to shed tears in desperation. "Malcolm..please..."

"Adelie, I can not shelter you anymore. You need to face the world and face emotions you've barred yourself from for a long time."

"What do you mean?" Adelie knew what he meant. For 100 years, she has fled any true connection with others. For 100 years, I have stayed far from anything that would break down my walls.

"Adelie..." I jumped at the touch, shocked out of my thoughts. "I know. This is hard. We are with you. We have always been here." I look up at Reese, my brain running in so many different directions.

"It is okay to be close to people." Reese says softly, pressing his forehead to mind. Him here, I could see his eyes, they showed his Yokai blood with their snake like slits but the icy blue reminded Adelie of the Seas off of Ireland where she would sit and watch after a mission.

"Reese, I will try...but the last person I was close to...he.." My voice cracked, I didn't want it to. I was not in control of my emotions. That terrified me.

Reese's expression grew serious, he gripped my face hard making me face him. "I am not him Adelie, I only hurt you when you want it. No one will ever do what he did to you. I am your safe harbor, to use as you see fit." Adelie didn't notice Paige and Malcolm left. When she did, she felt the tears come and Reese welcomed them allowing her to fall into him and wet his shirt with her tears.

"Your mind is twisted, Reese..." I tried to joke.

"Oh, only for you, Angel." Reese's voice was deep, and it sent shivers down my spine. "You have a large job on your shoulders, I am whatever you need me to be to help in those quiet moments where you are not the Reaper."

"My job..is dangerous, Reese. You can not protect me from it." I sniff, stepping back from him.

"Oh dear, I do not wish to keep you from your job. I know you have to do dangerous things. I am, however, always here, just a call away." Reese grinned that sideways grin leaning down to my ear. "However, I'd rather hear you beg."